Franco-Algerian writer sentenced to five years in prison on appeal in Algeria

The Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. imprisoned in Algeria for more than seven months was sentenced on appeal on Tuesday July 1 to 5 years in prison and 500,000 fine dinars, confirming the franco-algerian writer sentenced five years first instance of March 27. “The verdict of the court of first instance was confirmed. You have eight days to introduce a cassation appeal »said in French the president for the attention of Mr. Sansal, after reading the statement of the verdict in Arabic.

Questioned by the Agency France-Presse (AFP). the new French lawyer for the writer, Me Pierre Cornut-Gentille, arrived in recent days in Algiers, did not want to decide on this possibility. “I have no declarations to make, I must visit my client to discuss with him a possible appeal”he said. Mr. Sansal’s defender, 80 years old and suffering from cancer, said he “Meet yesterday [lundi]he’s going well “.

The prosecution had requested 10 years in prison. He was notably accused of Boualem Sansal declarations in October 2024 at the French media from the far right. Boundarieswhere he believed that Algeria had inherited under franco-algerian writer sentenced five years the French colonization of territories belonging hitherto in Morocco.

He was accused of“Involvement in national unity”. “Body outrage”, “Practices likely to harm the national economy” et “Detention of videos and publications threatening the security and stability of the country”. The appeal trial took place both at the request of the writer. the prosecution, who had already required ten years at first instance.

The writer. aged 80 and suffering from prostate cancer, according to his relatives, has been the subject of a harsh diplomatic fight between Algeria and France since franco-algerian writer sentenced five years his arrest in Algiers on November 16, 2024. French Prime Minister François Bayrou said on Tuesday hoping “Grace measures” of the Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

“The situation that Boualem Sansal is undergoing is a situation that all French and the French government are unbearable, rightly. Now that there has been condemnation. one can imagine that measures of grace, in particular according to the health of our compatriot, are taken “said the head of the French government on the sidelines of a trip to the Ministry of the Interior on the heat wave.

“I know that all executive bodies. from the President of the Republic to the government, act in this sense so that humanity triumphs”added François Bayrou. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who had defended a “Graduated response” With regard to Algeria in this case, said alongside Mr. Bayrou that he did not want “Get no chance. franco-algerian writer sentenced five years by especially the end of the week, so that Boualem Sansal can be released”.

Franco-algerian writer sentenced five years

Unprecedented diplomatic crisis

The Sansal affair pointed out a quarrel between Paris. Algiers launched in July 2024 by the recognition by France of an autonomy plan “Under Moroccan sovereignty” For Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco has been competed for 50 years and the separatists of the Polisario, supported by Algiers.

Since then. the two countries have been going through an unprecedented diplomatic crisis, marked by expulsions of diplomats on both sides, restrictions for holders of diplomatic visas and a freezing of all cooperation.

On May 6. the French National Assembly adopted a resolution calling for “Immediate franco-algerian writer sentenced five years release” of the writer, and to subject respect for “International human rights commitments” all “Strengthened cooperation” Between Algeria on the one hand, France and Europe on the other.